Circular-knitting machine



1,514,499 A. E. BERDON I CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 19 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 NOV. 4 7 19240 El v r N MW m m z W M z 0/. W u m m M 2 M... l M m w w flaw m s M a 9 1 r 3 8 0 m I W 4 VP. A 0 8 n l\| 8 8 9 "M in. N1 [1H .vl 6 6 a 7 h 4 m Q -ii I i 4 w w 8 n fl f I I i I l A. E. BERDofi CIRCULAR KNITTING MACEINE Nov. 4 1924. 1,514,499

Filed Aug. 19. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVE N TOR.

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Nov. 4 192.4, 1514.499

A. E. BERDON CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 19 192 4 -Shee1'.s-Sheet 5 flZerZE erdam,

A TTOR/VE' 6 Nov. 4 1924:

A. E. BERDON CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 19 192 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 n 0% r W6 Patented Nov. 41, 1%24.

UNHEQ ST FS PATENT @FEQ.

ALBERT E. su port, or nE'rnorr, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T

JAMES K. LANNIN'G, 0]? FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

Application filled August 19, 1921. Serial No. 493,637.

T 0' all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. Bunnofi, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Detroit, in the county of Wayne and 5 State of Michigan, have invented an Improvement in Circular-Knitting Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representinglike parts.

This invention relates to circular knitting machines, and more particularly to machines for knitting a continuous tube of small diameter at a high rate of speed. In

order that the principles of my invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings Wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevation of knitting mechanism constituting one embodiment or type of my invention;

Fig. 1 is a plan view, and Fig. 1 is a verticalsection of a detail pertaining to the oiling means; 1

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mecha nism disclosed in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and representing the preferred form or type of driving mechanism for the knitting head;

ig. 4 is a vertical section taken through the knitting head substantially centrally thereof, but indicating the needle carrier in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section upon the line 55 of Fig. 4:;

Fig. 6 is a detail in section upon the irregular line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view with parts 40 brplken away of the cam ring or cylinder;

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective inverted view indicating an oiling feature of the mechanism.

While in certain aspects of my invention,

it has general application to knitting machines for the production of various sizes of knitted articles, it is peculiarly adapted to the production at a high rate of speed of a continuous tube of very small diameter,

which tube may be if desired formedupon or produced over a core, such as a wire or a cord, but which-"in the disclosed embodiment of the invention is produced without a core and is of exceedingly small diameter.

Desirably the type of my invention herein disclosed is adapted for continuous operation at high speed, as for example 600 to 1500 revolutions per minute and desirably 1000 or more R. P. M. To secure and to maintain such high speed in acceptable or commercial construction, it is important that the relatively rotating part be thoroughly and substantially continuously lubricated and also that the rotating member be so supported as to rotate at a high rate of speed without substantial gyration or wobbling.

I have herein disclosed the preferred embodiment of means for effecting the lubrication and also the preferred form or type of bearing or support for the rotating element. In order to secure the indicated high speed of rotation without gyration or Wobbling, I provide a relatively rigid cylindrical bearing lengthwise the needle support and co-axial therewith, of a length exceeding the diameter of the needle support, which in the disclosed embodiment of my invention is the stationary element, and I provide for the application of the driving force to the cam cylinder at such a point as to prevent gyration or wobbling, and herein at a point relatively remote from each end of the cam cylinder, and from each end of said cylindrical bearing, the center of gravity of the rotating part falling between the ends of said stationary parts, and between the-ends of. the cam ring. a

a commercially, acceptable machine adapted for the production of a narrow diameter knitted tube at a high speed, it is of importance that the product be stationary, that is, non-rotary, and that the cam ring or support rotate about the needle cylinder. While for all purposes and for all aspects thereof, the invention is not limited to such structure, I have herein represented the stationary needle cylinder which I have found to be the commercially accept-able and most effective construction.

In that specific form or type of mechanism herein illustrated, I have disclosed a stationary needle cylinder having its length exceeding its diameter, a cam cylinder coaxial with the needle cylinder, and a rigid cylindrical or co-axial bearing for the cam 7 apply rotational driving force to said cam cylinder at a point relatively remote from both ends of said cam cylinder. Desirably also I provide a wide thrust bearing cooperating with the said rigid cylindrical or coaxia bearing. These and other features of my invention will be referred to more in detail hereinafter, and I will hereinafter refer to the said bearing as a cylindrical or co-axial one.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the needle support is indicated generally at 1. It is of small diameter and thin walled, particularly at the verge, in the preferred and disclosed embodiment of the invention and is herein represented as threaded at its lower end and thus stationarily held in a tubular support or cylindrical or co-axial bearing 2, the upper portion 3 whereof is of larger diameter than the lower part, so as tele'scopingly to receive therein and thereabout as hereinafter set forth the rotating cam ring or element, and its attached member to which the driving force is directly applied. The said needle cylinder is provided with the desired number of needle grooves or tricks 1 wherein are mounted for vertical reciprocation the knitting needles 5 which desirably are latch needles to which, however, my invention is not restricted, since other types of needles may in certain cases be used, as, for example, spring beard needles. The tubular support 2 for the needle carrier is mounted in the stationary bed or framing 6 and is rigidlysupplorted therein,'the threaded lower end .of t e needle cylinder having thereon a nut 7. Mounted above and co-axial with .the needle cylinder 1 is a ring 8 serving to confine the upper ends of the needle in their grooves, said ring having an annular groove 9 by means of which it may readily'be removed in disassembling, as by the insertion of a hooked tool to engage said groove.

The rotating cam" ring is indicated generall at 10. It willbe observed that the need e cylinder 1 is ca relatively great length and that said cam cylinder 10 is also of relatively greatlength compared with its diameter. Integral with the said cam cylinder 10, or rigidly secured thereto as herein shown, is the cam 11 having therein the cam track 12 shown most clearly in Figs. 4: and 7 as having a high point 13 whereby the needles whose heels ride in said cam groove are'elevated to receive theyarn introduced through the eye 14 of the member 15. Leading into theneedle groove 12 is a vertical .slot 16 wherebythe needles may be introduced into and .removed from the cam one or more screws 17.

opposite where the yarn is introduced through the thread guide or opening 14.

In order to use a greater or less number of needles than shown, it is merely necessary to remove the needle carrier,.replacing it with one of the required diameter, and to remove the cam ring, cam and attached parts, replacing it with one having a thicker or thinner cam ring or cam, as may be required, the tubular support or bearing 2, 3 being at all times left in positi'on if desired. It will be observed that there is an annular space between the cam ring and the part 3 of the tubular support or cylindrical or co-axial bearing, said parts being structurally distinct from each other as well as from the needle carrier.

Directlysurrounding the ring or member 15 is a ring 16 which is rigidly secured to the cam ring in any suitable manner as by The upper end of said ring- 16 is spaced frdm the reduced diameter portion of the member or ring 15 and thus forms a pocket, well or annular space 18 whereinto I desirably introduce oil in any suitable manner, either manually or automatically. If the oil be introduced manually, it is substantially necessary periodically to stop the rotation of the cam ring so as to introduce the end of the oiling canand particularly if an annular pocket be not provided, but only a non-annular oiling opening be provided. Preferably, liowever, 'I provide means hereinafter more fully described for introducing the oil or like lubricant automatically. The lubricant is therefore desirably introduced into the pocket or annular space or chamber 18 by a' tube or hollow member 19 shown also in Figs. 1 and 3, leading from'a member 20 and having its lower end downwardly bent as indicated at 21 and desirably ending in a point orpin 22 of suitable material from which the oil drips at the desired rate of speed into the pocket or space 18. From said pocket or space 18 the-oil works its way between the relatively rotating parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Rigid with the cam ring 10 is anouter ring or sleeve like member 23 to which the ring 16 is ri idly secured by one or more screws 24:. aid member 23 constitutes a bearing sleeve and extends downwardly outsleeve 23. The lower end of the surround-' ing portion 24 has an annular surface 26 towhich ll apply rotational driving force, herein disclosed in suflicient detail, but fully disclosed and claimed in my c-o-pending application Serial No. 493,638, new Patent No.

1,506,151, dated Aug. 26, 1924, the construction being such that the center of gravity lies between the ends of the needle cylinder and the cam ring and between the ends of the coaxial hearing, it being noted that the needle cylinder and the cam ring are separately supported. The extreme lower end i of the surrounding portion 24 terminates in a horizontal flange engaged by the lower face of the driving member, whereby the cam cylinder is held in position, but can be readily lifted from position to disassemble the knitting head, when the driving memher is moved out of driving relation thereto.

The driving member is indicated in part at 27 in Fig. 4, it being a disk shown in plan in Fig. 3 and which is desirably supported upon an arm or member 28 pivoted or otherwise supported at 29 so that it may be moved toward and from the knitting head, thereby to drive the latter when in contact therewith and to permit the latter to become stationary when withdrawn there'- from in any way and for any purpose, as, for example, in the event of a thread fault as disclosed more fully in my co-pending applications Serial Nos. 493,639, filed Aug. 19, 1921, now Patent No. 1,506,152, dated August 26, 1924, and 497,402, filed Aug. 31, 1921. The described telescopic arrangement permits less vertical height of the needle cylinder, and the construction is such that a thin walled needle cylinder is nevertheless supported rigidly although itself not rigid.

, Moreover all the parts are so supported that the machine may be driven at high speed without substantial vibration, gyration or heating. a

The upper end of the stationary sleeve like member 3 terminates desirably slightly below a shoulder 30 of the cam ring 10 and permits the passage of the lubricating oil outwardly through one or more openings 31. As previously indicated, thereis an annular space 32 between the two parts of the sleeve like member to which the driving rotational force is applied. The oil passes downwardly in said annular space and through one or more vertical openings 33, one of which is indicated in Fig. 8, and from which I have herein indicated as leading, two grooves 34, 35 directed respectively outwardly and inwardly so as to distribute the oil to the lower side of the rotating member and between it and the support 6. Rigidly secured in a vertical opening in said base 6 is a tube 36 held in position by a screw 37, the upper end thereof being nearly closed as indicated at 38, said covering or top portion 38 being cut away at one corner so as to receive therein the lower edge 39 of the driven sleeve 23 whereby the oil is wiped ofi from the lower outer edge of said rotating sleeve and passes downwardly through said tube 36 and into some suitable receiver, as, for example, the trough or conduit 40 supported at 41 upon the framing 42 and from which the oil may be discharged if desired through the opening 43 into some suitable receptacle not herein shown, where by the oil may be recovered if desired and again used.

Although not herein claimed excepting in general combination, I have in 4 represented in detail the driving member previously'referred to in general as indicated at 27. Said driving member comprises a pulley 44 having a groove 45 receiving a driving belt 46 passing about and driven from any suitable driven part, such, for example, as the driven member of a small. electric motor, whereby said pulley is driven at'desirably a very high rate of speed as hereinbefore indicated. The said pulley desirably has leather or fibre disks 47 secured thereto by one or more screws .48, said pulley being supported for rotation upon an axial stud or stationary support 49 threaded at its lower reduced end 50 into an opening in the movable arm 28 and wherein it is held by the nut 51. The upper end of the stud 49 has an axial chamber 52 threaded at its.

upper end as indicated at 53 to receive the lower threaded end 54 of an oil receptacle indicated at 55, whereby oil is fed or delivered into the space 52 from which it passes outwardly through the radial passages 56 into the space between the outer surface of the stud 49 and the inner surface of the pulley 44. The oil works its way to the lower end of said sleeve 44 and is wiped therefrom into an upright tube 57 secured by a screw 58 to the arm 28. Said tube 57 is desirably constructed like the tube 36, being closed at its upper end excepting at one corner or edge where the oil is received. Said oil is discharged into the receiver 40 previously referred to.

The upper end of the pulley 44 as indicated at 58 surrounds and is desirably spaced from the upper end of the stud 49 so as to provide an annular chamber 59 into which thrust bearing and works its way outwardly the oil work's, said chamber having acap 60 threaded .into position. From the oil chamber 52 there extend inclined oil passages 61, 62, whereby the oil is delivered into the annular space 59 and also between the outer surface of the stud 49 and the inner surface of the pulley 44.

The oil supplying arm or tube 19 is as hereofore stated supported upon the post 20. Instead of being rigidly mounted thereon, it is desirably carried by a head 63 which as shown in Fig. 2 and in detail in Figs. 1 and 1", is provided with a pin 64 adapted to be received in a groove or socket 65, thus holding said arm 19 in place. Said head 63 may, however, be lifted sufliciently from the support 20 to withdraw the pin 64 from the groove or socket 65, thus permitting said arm or tube 19to be swung to the right or left viewing Fig. 3, when it is desired to disassemble the parts of the knitting head or for any other purpose. As shown most clearly in Fig. .3, the lower end of the support 20 is provided with a flange or member66 having therein an arcuate groove 67 receiving a set screw 68 by which the parts may be secured in any. desired position. The movable portion 63 of the support 20 receives-therein the lower end 69 of the oil receptacle 70 of suitable construction, such as a sight feed lubricator, whereby the oil may be delivered in any desired quantity downwardly into the tube 19 as already described.

The oil or lubricant delivered through the tube 19 passes into the annular chamber 18 andthence onto the thread guiding member 15. It then passes downwardly through spiral grooves, one of which is in dicated at 71, onto and into the cam slot and needle support 1 and onto the needles which become lubricated throughout their entire length up to and including the latches or the lower portion thereof, but without passing to the yarn. The oil passing downwardly is caught or collected in the space 73 at the lower end of the knitting cam, this pocket being closed at its lower end by the needle support 1 and. the surrounding sleeve support or bearing 2,13. The oil passes from said pocket out through a suitable number of radial holes 74 to the bear; ing sleeve shown as having an annular groove 75 with which communicates a spiral groove or if desired a plurality of spiral grooves 76. The oil passes up said spiral groove or grooves to the top of'the sleeve like support 2, 3 and then passes outwardly over the top of said support and down by gravity between the stationary bearing sleeve 2, 3 and the surrounding driven member. The oil then passes down to the alon the horizontal surface'thereof and is wiped off into the tube 36. The 011 also passes from the top of the stationary hearing member 3 through the holes 31 shown in Fig. 5 as four in number, thence downwardly through the annular space 32 and down through the vertical passages 33 to said thrust bearing surface 6.

The oil introduced into the space 52 of the-stationary stud 49 for the friction drive passes out through the series of horizontal holes 56 and thence down between the outer surface of the stud 49 and the adjacent surface of the pulley 45 and also upwardly from said horizontal holes 56 to the horizontal thrust surface 77, thence outward to fill up the space or pocket 59 from which it drains downwardly through the. inclined groove 61 and also the inclined groove 78,

to said horizontal holes 56 so as either to recirculate as described or to pass down between the stationary stud 49 and the pulley 45 to be wiped ofi into the tube 57. The parts thus far described including the knitting head and the drive may be supported upon a table or other member 79 from which upwardly extend aplurality of vertical posts or columns :80 shown in Fig. 1 as three in number and upon the ends whereof is supported the bed 6 of the machine. Desirably I provide a fixed brake indicated at 81 in Fig. 3 and against which the flange 26 of the sleeve 23, 24 of the knitting head may take or hear when the driving pulley is withdrawn from driving relation therewith, said brake being readily removable by removal of the screw 82. Said brake prevents axial movement of the cam cylinder with respect to the rigid bearing.

The knitted tube issuing from the lower end of-the. interior of the stationary needle support is indicated at 83. This knitted product is represented as of small diameter. It may be of such exceedin ly small diameter as to have substantiafiy no central or axial opening, or it may be of somewhat larger diameter. Such product is adapted for use in many relations, among which I may mention the following: It may be used for sleeving or for shoe lacings or in certain relation for a packing, as, for example, for head lights. When of larger diameter it may be used in rubber hose and as a in various diameters it may be used conduit. It may also be used as a general substitute for braids. than which it maybe produced much more rapidly'and by mechanism of much more compact and sim le structure and at a much lower cost. 0- cording to the size of the thread or yarn used and according to the gauge of the needles, it may be produced at rates varying from about five feet to about nine feet a minute. Inasmuch as the knitted roduct is produced at a very high rate 0 speed," it is of extreme importance that a fabric take-up be provided which under all coneia-nee ditions of operation will maintain the knitted tube under proper and substantially uniform tension, within certain predetermined and close limits. Because of the fact that the space or axial opening 84 is or may be of extremely small diameter, the yarn or thread is apt to bunch very rapidly upon the latches or beards of the needles in the event of thread fault and consequent loss of tension upon theknitted product 88. Therefore I have devised an improved fabric take-up which is not herein claimed in detail, but which is indicated I generally and to which ll will refer briefly.

, Beneath the knitting head and desirably close to the base 79 is supported a pulley 85 driven by a belt 86 from any suitable source of power as for example from the electric motor herein referred to. Constituting a portion of said take-up are a pair of grooved driven wheels 87 between which the knitted product 83 passes and by which at all times proper tension is maintained upon said fabric. Constituting a part of the. said take-up is a movable arm 88 having a roll 89 thereon adapted to bear against the knitted product and adapted by either increase or decrease in the tension of or upon said knitted product to cause the stoppage of the mechanism in any well known manner, wherein the take-up mechanism is fully disclosed and claimed per se, it being claimed only in general combination with the hereinbefore described part of the knitting mechanism in this application.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims- 1. A rotary knitting machine having a stationary, rigid needle cylinder of a length exceeding its diameter, needles supported thereby, a prolonged or extended cam cy11nder co-axial with the needle cylinder, and cooperating means for rotating the cam "cylinder at a high rate of speed, i. e. in excess of 600 R. P. M. without substantial gyration or wobblin'g, said cooperating means for rotating the cam cylinder including means to apply the drivin force to said cam cylinder at a point relatively remote from each end of the said cam cylinder.

2. A high speed rotary knitting machine for knitting small diameter tubes in continuous lengths comprising in combination, a stationary needle cylinder having its length exceeding its diameter, a cam cylinder co-axial with the needle cylinder, and a rigid cylindrical or co-axial bearing for the cam cylinder distinct from the'needle cylinder and of a length substantially exceeding the diameter of the needle cylinder, thereby cooperating to prevent gyration or wobbhng, and means to apply rotational drivmg force to said cam cylinder at a point relatively remote from both ends of said cam cylinder.

8. A high speed rotary knitting machine for knitting. small diameter tubes in continuous lengths comprising in combination, a stationary needle cylinder having its length exceeding its diameter, a cam cylinder coaxial with the needle cylinder, a rigid cylindrical or co-axial bearing for the cam cylinder distinct from the needle cylinder and of a length substantially exceeding the diameter of the needle cylinder, thereby cooperating to prevent gyration or wobbling, and a wide thrust bearing cooperating with the said rigid co-axial bearing, and means to apply rotational driving force to said cam cylinder at a point relatively remote from both ends of said cam cylinder.

4. A high speed rotary knitting machine for knitting small diameter tubes in continuous lengths comprising in combination, a stationary needle cylinder having its length exceeding its "diameter, a cam cylinder coaxial with the needle cylinder, and a rigid cylindrical or co-axial bearing for the cam cylinder distinct from the needle cylinder and of a length substantially exceeding the diameter of the needle cylinder, thereby cooperating to prevent gyration or wobbling, means to apply rotational driving force to said cam cylinder at a point relatively remote from both ends of said cam cylinder. and means to prevent axial movement of the cam cylinder with respect to the rigid co-axial bearing.

A high speed rotary knitting machine for knitting small diameter tubes in continuous lengths comprising in combination, a stationary needlecylinder having its length exceeding its diameter, a cam cylinder co-axial with the needle cylinder, and a rigid bearing for the cam cylinder coaxial therewith and outside of a' face thereof and other than the needle cylinder and spaced at its inner face from said cam cylinder, said cam cylinder having rigid therewith a member surrounding and borne by said rigid co-axial bearing.

6. A high speed rotary knitting machine for knitting small diameter tubes in continuous lengths comprising in combination, a stationary needle cylinder having its length exceeding its diameter, a cam cyl inder co-axial with the needle cylinder, and

a rigid cylindrical or co-axial bearing for the cam cylinder supported at the base of the needle cylinder and surrounding the cam cylinder, butspaced at its inner face therefrom. a

- 7. A high speed rotary knitting machine for knitting small diameter tubes in continuous lengths comprising in combination, a stationary needle cylinder having its length exceeding its diameter, a cam cylinder co-axial with the needle cylinder, a rigidco-axial bearing for the cam cylinder supported at the base of the needle cylinder and surrounding the cam cylinder but spaced at its inner face therefrom, and means to apply rotational driving force tosaid cam cylinder at a point relatively re mote from both ends of said cam cylinder. 8. A high speed rotary knitting machine for knitting small diameter tubes in continuous lengths comprising in combination, a stationary needle cylinder having its length exceeding its diameter, a cam cylinder co-axial with the needle cylinder, a rigid co-axial bearing for the cam cylinder extending upwardly from the base of the needle cylinder but distinct therefrom and spaced at its inner face from said cam cylinder, the latter having a depending cylindrical portion having bearing relation with the outer face of said rigid co-axial bearing.

9. A high speed rotary knitting machine for knitting small diameter tubes in continuous lengths comprising in combination, a stationary needle cylinder having its length exceeding its diameter, a cam cylinder co-axial with the needle cylinder, a rigid co-axial bearing for the cam cylinder extending upwardly from the base ofthe needle cylinder but distinct therefrom and spaced at its inner face from said cam cylinder, the latter having a depending cylindrical portion having bearing relation with the outer face of said rigid co-axial bearing, there being a wide thrust bearing relation of said'depending cylindrical portion with respect to a fixed part of the machine.

10. In a rotary knitting machine having a substantially circular section needle carrier and fabric guiding structure with its needle guide ways and cooperating slidable needles and having a needle sliding cam concentric -with said structure ,and positioned co-axially thereof to engage needle actuating extensions on the needles remote from the verge of said structure and also positioned between said verge and a support for said structure at the end thereof opposite said verge, the axial length of said structure being greater than its internal diameter at its verge, means being provided to give a relative rotary movement between said structure and said cam by means of rotation of said cam, and means to prevent gyratory movement of said cam and of its connected driving device from being transmitted to said structure, said gyratory movement-preventing means comprising a cooperating cylindrical bearing for said cam and device arranged .co-axially with said structure and further arranged to receive a supporting element for said cam, the latter being also arranged to be free of direct operative contact with said structure, together with a cooperative thrust bearing adapted to hold said cam co-axially of said structure in designed cooperative relation with said needles.

11. A rotary knitting machine having a stationary, rigid, needle cylinder of a length exceeding its diameter, needles supported thereby, a cam cylinder coaxial; with the needle cylinder, and cooperating means for rotating the cam cylinder at a high rate of speed, i. e. in excess of 600 R. P. M. without substantial gyration or wobbling, a rigid cylindrical,or-co-axial bearing for the cylinder structurally distinct from the needle cylinder, said cam cylinder having its knitting cam inside said bearing and having an exterior member which has bearing relation with said rigid cylindrical or co-axial bearings.

12. A rotary knitting machine having a stationary needle cylinder, a rotating cam cylinder, the diameter whereof is less than its height, means for operating said ca'm cylinder at a high speed, i. e. in excess of 600 R. P. M., an elongated bearing for said cam cylinder, and means to apply rotational force to said cam cylirider between the ends of the said bearing.

13. A rotary knitting machine having a stationary needle cylinder, a rotating cam cylinder, the diameter whereof is less than its height, means for operating said cam cylinder at a high speed, i. e. in excess of 600 R. P. M., said cam cylinder having inner and outer spaced cylindrical portions, a rigid bearing between said inner and outer cylindrical portions, and means to apply rotational force to the said outer cylindrical portion of the cam cylinder.

14:. A rotary knitting machine having a stationary needle cylinder, a rotating cam cylinder, the diameter whereof is less than its height, means for operating said cam cylinder at a high speed, i. e. in excess of 600 R. P. M., said cam cylinder having inner and outer spaced cylindrical portions,

. and an elongated rigid bearing between said inner and outer cylindrical portions.

15. A rotary knitting machine having a stationary, rigid needle cylinder of a length exceeding its diameter, needles supported thereby, a cam cylinder having a length exceeding its diameter, and means to rotate said cam cylinder at a high rate-of speed,

i. e. in excess of600 R. P. M. without substantial gyration or wobbling, and cooperating means to prevent gyration or wobcam bling, said cooperating means including an elongated rigid cylindrical or co-axial bearing, said cam cylinder having means whereby the application of rotational driving force may be made at a point relatively re der distinct from said needle cylinder, said cam cylinder having inner and outer members, said outer memberhaving a bearing relation at its inner face with the outer face of said rigid bearing.

17. In a rotary knitting machine, in combination, a stationary needle cylinder, a rotary cam cylinder and a rigid bearing distinct from said needlecylinder, said cam cylinder-having inner and outer parts, the

inner face of said outer part having hearing relation with the outer face of said rigid bearing, and the inner part of' said cam cylinder being spaced from the inner face of said rigid bearing.

18. In a rotary. knitting machine in combination, a stationary needle cylinder, a rotary cam cylinder and a rigid bearin distinct from said needle cylinder, sai cam cylinder having inner and outer parts, the

inner face of said outer part having bearing relation with the outer face of said rigid bearing, and the inner part of said cam cylinder being spaced from the inner face of said rigid bearing, there being a wide thrust bearing for said outer part of the rotary cam cylinder.

19. A rotary knitting machine comprising in combination, a stationary needle cylinder, a rotary cam cylinder having inner and outer spaced cylindrical members, an elongated rigid cylindrical or co-axial, bearing distinct from said needle cylinder and lo cated between the inner and outer members of said cam cylinder, the said outer part of the cam cylinder depending from the transverse plane of its support at the upper end of said stationary bearing into telescoped relation with respect to the needle cylinder and said bearing. I

20. In a rotary knitting machine comprising a stationary needlecylinder, a rotary cam cylinder having inner and outer members, a rigid bearing distinct from the needle cylinder and located between said inner and outer members, a wide thrust bearing, a thread guide, and means to circulate a lubricatingoil in the following sequence; namely, onto the thread guide, onto the cam cylinder, th needle cylinder, the rigid bearing and the thrust bearing, and means to remove the oil from the knitting head.

21. In a circular knitting machine comprising a stationary needle cylinder, a rotary cam cylinder having inner and outer members, a rigid bearing distinct from the needle cylinder and located between said inner and outer members, means to apply rotational driving force frictionally to the outer face of said outer member, a thread guide, and means to circulate lubricating oil in the following se.

quence'; namely, onto the thread guide, onto the cam cylinder, the needle cylinder and the needles, onto the bearing, means to remove the circulating oil from the knitting head, and means to circulate oil through the driving means.

22. A circular knitting machine having a stationary needle cylinder, a rotary cam cylinder having inner and outer cylindrical members, a rigid bearing between said members and having bearing relation with the inner face of said outer member, means to circulate lubricating oil along the faces of the needle cylinder, the cam cylinder and said bearing, and means to wipe the circulating oil from the knittin head.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ALBERT E. BER-DON, 

